Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2005-02-20
Astrophys.J.625:667,2005
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Accepted by ApJ; 14 pages, 4 figures, uses emulateapj
Scientific paper
10.1086/429812
By analogy to the different accretion states observed in black-hole X-ray binaries (BHXBs), it appears plausible that accretion disks in active galactic nuclei (AGN) undergo a state transition between a radiatively efficient and inefficient accretion flow. If the radiative efficiency changes at some critical accretion rate, there will be a change in the distribution of black hole masses and bolometric luminosities at the corresponding transition luminosity. To test this prediction, I consider the joint distribution of AGN black hole masses and bolometric luminosities for a sample taken from the literature. The small number of objects with low Eddington-scaled accretion rates mdot < 0.01 and black hole masses Mbh < 10^9 Msun constitutes tentative evidence for the existence of such a transition in AGN. Selection effects, in particular those associated with flux-limited samples, systematically exclude objects in particular regions of the black hole mass-luminosity plane. Therefore, they require particular attention in the analysis of distributions of black hole mass, bolometric luminosity, and derived quantities like the accretion rate. I suggest further observational tests of the BHXB-AGN unification scheme which are based on the jet domination of the energy output of BHXBs in the hard state, and on the possible equivalence of BHXB in the very high (or "steep power-law") state showing ejections and efficiently accreting quasars and radio galaxies with powerful radio jets.
No associations
LandOfFree
A simple test for the existence of two accretion modes in Active Galactic Nuclei does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with A simple test for the existence of two accretion modes in Active Galactic Nuclei, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A simple test for the existence of two accretion modes in Active Galactic Nuclei will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-196876